The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-04-21
SUICIDE OF DANENHowER.
The Arctic Explorer Kills Himself at
Annapolis Naval Academy.

ANNAPOLIS, April 20.-Lieutenant John
Danenhower, the Arctic explorer, shot and
killed himself at the Naval Academy this
morning. he was discovered at 10 o'clock,
dead, in his quarters at the Academy, with
bullet hole in his right temple, lying on
rug in front of the fireplace, with tag tied
to his button-hole, saying "Send to my broth
er at Washington" Although he has had
mental troubles since he returned from the
Arctic regions, what Immediately led to the
suicide is thought to have been the recent
grounding of the Constellation on its way to
Norfolk, which he had charge of, and for
which, it is supposed, he feared being court
martialed. Furthermore, he was very inti-
mate with young Robert w. Gatewood, who
committed suicide few days ago on the
death suggested the mode to him. His wife,
formerly Miss Sloan, of New York, is away
with her parents. Lieut.. DanenhOwer leaves
two children. He was about 80 years old,
and an intelligent and polished officer.
John Wilson Danenhower was born in Il
linois about thirty-seven years ago. He en-
tered the naval academy in 1866 and was
graduated four years later as midshipman
From 1870 to 1872 he served on the Shenan-
doah of the European squadron, and in 1873
he was attached to the Brooklyn, Of the
squadron. During the following year he
served on the receiving ship Vermont. At
ter years service on the Ticonderoga, of
the North Atlantic squadron, he was trans
ferred to the coast survey schooner Silliman.
From 1876 to 1879 he was attached to the
Ranger of the Asiatlc squadron, and in 1880
he was ordered to the naval academy. He
became an ensign in 1871, master in 1873
and lieutenant in 1879.
Lieutenant Dahenhower was the naviga-
tor of the Jeanette, which sailed from San
Francisco, July s, 1879, and was crushed in
the Arctic ocean, north of Siberia, on June
13, 1881. During large part of the time the
Jeanette was drifting with the ice Lieuten-
ant Dancnhower suffered with his eyes and
was unable to do much active duty. His
eyes were still affected when the retreat be-
gan and the command of his boat was given
to Chief Engineer Melville. Early in 1882 he
left Yakutsk for home, bringing with him
eight seamen and Mr.. r. L. Newcomb. the
naturalist of the expedition. Mr.. Melville
remained at Yakutsk with Bartlett and MIN
dermann to prosecute the missing members
of the Jeannette'S crew.
Lieutenant Danenhower's eyes were badly
affected until long after his return home. but
during the retreat and the early searches for
DeLong The rendered valuable service and
showed that his own weakened condition
would not permit his risking his life in at
tempts to find and aid his missing comrades,
The marriage of Lieutenant Danenhower
and Miss Helen Laflin Sloan took place on
the forenoon of March 10, 1885, at Christ
Episcopal Church in Chicago. There was a
large assemblage present, about 500 invita-
tions having been issued. The bride was
the only daughter of George b. Sloan, and
an estimable and accomplished young lady
Miss Sloan and Lieutenant Danenhower met
in Chicago for the first time when the latter
lectured on his experiences with the Jean
nette expedition. He was the guest of Rob-
ert f. Sl0ar, brother of the bride, who was
also graduate of the naval college at An
napolis, but left the service year or two
ago.